Posts Tagged ‘lou reed’

I’ve had a bunch of Loudon Wainwright III vinyl for about 10 years. Maybe listened to one album one time. I’m a big fan of the rest of the family – Rufus, his famous son, Rufus’ sister, Martha, and the McGarrigle Sisters, one of whom is Loudon’s ex-wife and Rufus’ mother. I’ve always heard how great he is. I loved him on M*A*S*H when I was a teenager – he made occasional cameos as a folk singin’ doctor who stayed with Hawkeye and B.J. in “the swamp.” On those episodes, scenes would be framed with the funny-sad songs he wrote for the show. But later in life, I just never quite got over the hump with him. He is an artist I respect and admire, but really dont’ want to listen to – like Lou Reed after Transformer.

I know his song “Motel Blues” from hearing Alex Chilton do it on one of those mid-90’s Big Star rereleased live and rarity albums, of which, there were too many. And I love Big Star, but I digress. I liked the song fine, but I didn’t “get it.” I recently found a version of Loudon doing it while looking for Rufus Wainwright stuff, and was truly moved. Chilton missed the self-loathing and desperation in his version. The audience thinks it’s supposed to funny, and then has no idea what to think. And that’s what they call “Art.”